It has a land area of 12,100 hectares. As Gateway to Northern Philippines, the city's strategic location is on the central part of eastern Pangasinan. Urdaneta City is among the most progressive cities in Northern Luzon in annual regular income beating all cities in Region 1. It is among the region's cleanest, greenest and most livable cities.

Urdaneta is 182 kilometres (113 mi) from Manila, 28 kilometres (17 mi) from Dagupan City and is 59 kilometres (37 mi) from the provincial capital, Lingayen.

The first settlers of the area were Pangasinenses, followed by a migration of Ilocanos who settled in outlying areas. These settlers petitioned the Spanish government to allow them to form a separate pueblo for greater ties and stronger unity. Their petition was granted and Urdaneta was formally founded as a pueblo on January 8, 1858. There is uncertainty if it was named after Andrés de Urdaneta, Miguel de Urdaneta, or Simon de Urdaneta.[6]

Urdaneta became a city through Republic Act 8480, otherwise known as "An Act Converting the Municipality of Urdaneta, Province of Pangasinan into a Component City to be known as the City of Urdaneta". This was signed on January 10, 1998 and was voted affirmatively by the people of Urdaneta City on March 21, 1998.[6]

SM Prime Holdings will put up an SM Supermall to be called SM City Urdaneta Central, currently under construction and scheduled to open second half of 2017. The largest cattle market in Northern Luzon is Urdaneta's Livestock Market. The city has numerous financial and banking institutions which make it among the most vibrant economies in Pangasinan and the whole Ilocos Region.

The city celebrates fiesta every month of December. This is in remembrance of the city patron, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Festivities are held 1–8 December. Activities include a parade, drum and lyre competition, teachers' night, balikbayan night, ABC-SK night, ballroom, Miss Urdaneta City coronation night and many more events. A carnival is put up every December as a part of the event.[11]

In the 2012 yearly City Fiesta celebration (December 1–15), Fifth District Representative Kimi S. Cojuangco formally (December 1) opened the agro-industrial fair where “bahay kubo” booths of the city’s barangays showcased their products at the Urdaneta City Cultural and Sports Complex. Cojuangco was assisted by Manila Economic and Cultural Office Chair Amadeo R. Perez Jr., Mayor Amadeo Gregorio “Bobom” Perez IV and members of the Sangguniang Bayan led by Vice Mayor Onofre C. Gorospe.

The Urdaneta Cathedral or the 1858 Immaculate Conception Cathedral (2428 Urdaneta City) is part of the Vicariate of Our Lady Vicar Foranes, Rev. Fr. Alberto T. Arenos and Father Elpidio F. Silva Jr. Its Feast Day is December 8 and the Rector is Msgr. Lazaro P. Hortaleza with VG Vice Rectors VF Father Alberto A. Viernes and Father Christopher R. Herreria. Its head is Bishop Jacinto Agcaoili Jose. List of cathedrals in the Philippines)

Founded on January 8, 1858, the Parish as Vicariate, was accepted by the Dominicans in 1863, under Kura Paroko Padre Nicolas Manrique Alonzo. Fr. Rafael Cano built the old church on March 4, 1884: 77.10 meters long and 23.30 meters wide with 3 naves. It was destroyed by the American bombings in January 1945.

Diocesan Officials of the Ordinary of Urdaneta Diocese are led by Bishop Jacinto Agcaoili Jose, JCL, DD (born on Oct. 29, 1950 in Mangato, Laoag City; ordained on June 29, 1975; Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Urdaneta on Sept. 21, 2005; on Nov. 26, 2005, he was ordained). His installation as Third Bishop of the Diocese of Urdaneta took place on Dec. 30, 2005. He serves as vice chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcopal Commission of Social Communications and Mass Media and member of the Episcopal commission on Youth.

The Aglipay Central Theological Seminary (ACTS) in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan is the regional seminary of the church dedicated to serve the North-Central and South-Central Luzon Dioceses. ACTS offers a Bachelor of Theology and Divinity Programs for those who aspire to enter the ordained ministry in the Church. It is a four-year study program with a curriculum focused on biblical, theological, historical and pastoral studies with reference to parish management and development and wider cultural and social context. Members of the Philippine Independent Church or Aglipayans has the second most members in the city.